Devils expect Larsson to step up

By TOM GULITTI

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

NEWARK – It was only two years ago that an 18-year-old Adam Larsson was beginning his first NHL training camp as the much-heralded fourth-overall draft pick and perceived future cornerstone of the Devils' defense.

Over the first few days of this year's training camp, however, there's been more talk about whether other young defensemen such as Jon Merrill, Alex Urbom and Eric Gelinas are ready to make the team while Larsson, now 20, has flown under the radar a bit.

As Larsson prepares to begin his third NHL season, however, he understands how pivotal it is for him and the Devils. He's had ups and downs over the first two seasons. Now, he'd like to put it all together and become a regular contributor.

"I knew it would take a couple of years to really adjust and get used to the game," he said Saturday. "This is an important year for me, so I have to step up and show the coaches and show the organization that I earned a spot in 82 games this year."

Devils coach Pete DeBoer said he's looking for Larsson to take "just another step."

"If this was easy, everybody would do it," DeBoer said. "If getting drafted high meant you automatically became an NHL All-Star … we all know that's not the case. He's just got to take another step. I like where he's at. I like the path he's taken. He's paid his dues. He's had some adversity and I think we're going to have a better player for that this year."

DeBoer still views Larsson as a player who can be a cornerstone of this team's defense. "I don't think there's any doubt about that," he said.

Larsson said, "I don't think about that.

"I have to think about what I have to do and what I have to do to help the team," he said.

DeBoer admits he probably asked Larsson to do too much too soon as a rookie in 2011-12. He started the season playing the point on the first power-play unit and playing 20-plus minutes a night.

Larsson struggled at times with that role and the Devils gradually cut back on his responsibilities. He still got in 65 games and put up two goals and 16 assists as a rookie.

Larsson's sophomore season was derailed at the start by the NHL owners' lockout, but he viewed that as a positive because it gave him a chance to play regularly. When the NHL season finally got under way in January, the coaching staff asked Larsson to concentrate on 5-on-5 and on his defensive play, and he ended up with no goals and six assists in 37 games.

Both he and DeBoer believe the small step back he was asked to take last season will help his all-around game in the long run.

"We probably should have done that a little bit the other way around. We probably should have come out of the gate with that and give him a little bit more last year," DeBoer said. "But, at the end of the day, he's in the same spot. He's had a little bit of both and we think he's going to be able to do a lot of things this year for us."

BRIEFS: RW Jaromir Jagr did not skate for the second day in a row because of what the Devils are calling "lower body soreness," but DeBoer said he is "feeling better." … LW Patrik Elias didn't scrimmage for the second day in a row, but practiced again with the players who did not play. DeBoer said Elias will play in today's scrimmage, which will focus on special teams. … DeBoer said he hasn't decided his lineup yet for Monday's preseason opener vs. the Rangers.

Devils expect Larsson to step up

By TOM GULITTI

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

NEWARK – It was only two years ago that an 18-year-old Adam Larsson was beginning his first NHL training camp as the much-heralded fourth-overall draft pick and perceived future cornerstone of the Devils' defense.

Over the first few days of this year's training camp, however, there's been more talk about whether other young defensemen such as Jon Merrill, Alex Urbom and Eric Gelinas are ready to make the team while Larsson, now 20, has flown under the radar a bit.

As Larsson prepares to begin his third NHL season, however, he understands how pivotal it is for him and the Devils. He's had ups and downs over the first two seasons. Now, he'd like to put it all together and become a regular contributor.

"I knew it would take a couple of years to really adjust and get used to the game," he said Saturday. "This is an important year for me, so I have to step up and show the coaches and show the organization that I earned a spot in 82 games this year."

Devils coach Pete DeBoer said he's looking for Larsson to take "just another step."

"If this was easy, everybody would do it," DeBoer said. "If getting drafted high meant you automatically became an NHL All-Star … we all know that's not the case. He's just got to take another step. I like where he's at. I like the path he's taken. He's paid his dues. He's had some adversity and I think we're going to have a better player for that this year."

DeBoer still views Larsson as a player who can be a cornerstone of this team's defense. "I don't think there's any doubt about that," he said.

Larsson said, "I don't think about that.

"I have to think about what I have to do and what I have to do to help the team," he said.

DeBoer admits he probably asked Larsson to do too much too soon as a rookie in 2011-12. He started the season playing the point on the first power-play unit and playing 20-plus minutes a night.

Larsson struggled at times with that role and the Devils gradually cut back on his responsibilities. He still got in 65 games and put up two goals and 16 assists as a rookie.

Larsson's sophomore season was derailed at the start by the NHL owners' lockout, but he viewed that as a positive because it gave him a chance to play regularly. When the NHL season finally got under way in January, the coaching staff asked Larsson to concentrate on 5-on-5 and on his defensive play, and he ended up with no goals and six assists in 37 games.

Both he and DeBoer believe the small step back he was asked to take last season will help his all-around game in the long run.

"We probably should have done that a little bit the other way around. We probably should have come out of the gate with that and give him a little bit more last year," DeBoer said. "But, at the end of the day, he's in the same spot. He's had a little bit of both and we think he's going to be able to do a lot of things this year for us."

BRIEFS: RW Jaromir Jagr did not skate for the second day in a row because of what the Devils are calling "lower body soreness," but DeBoer said he is "feeling better." … LW Patrik Elias didn't scrimmage for the second day in a row, but practiced again with the players who did not play. DeBoer said Elias will play in today's scrimmage, which will focus on special teams. … DeBoer said he hasn't decided his lineup yet for Monday's preseason opener vs. the Rangers.